What small things will you do this week? W/C 8th September

Betharooni

When we start on the DFW trail we do loads of "big stuff" that makes quite a difference to our situation. These include having our lightbulb moment, cutting up the credit cards, and cancelling Sky and the gym.

But once we have done the bigger stuff, we often feel that we are not making the same amount of progress, when in fact the small steps are helping us form good financial habits and helping us get closer every day to staying in control and becoming debt free, or staying debt free. 

Examples could be hanging washing out instead of using the tumble dryer or leaving your purse/wallet at home to avoid the risk of spending.   

So be proud of those small steps, they really are important!

Betharooni

Hope it’s ok me starting this back up. I could do with focusing on the small things a bit more atm, as I’ve let things slip and this month is pretty tight finance-wise for me. 

I’ve not really done much over the last couple of days as I’ve been poorly, but feeling a bit better now, so putting a plan in place for the rest of the week. 

• Find booklet re how to change hot water settings and reset so it isn’t on 24/7.
• Sort out something to take into office Thursday and Friday for breakfast and lunch, rather than buying from shop next door to office.
• Spend a bit of time each day in the garden clearing some weeds, pulling out spent annuals and cutting back perennial plants, to start the autumn tidying process.
• Sort out shredding to take into office on Friday to make use of their industrial shredder.
• No takeaways!
• Spend time doing a couple of CBT sessions.
• Review finances and create some plans.
• Daily Duolingo.
• Sort out ironing duvet covers and pillow cases.
• Continue decluttering my bedroom.

Some of these things are not particularly money-saving but should keep me occupied and not spending.

B x

Betharooni

Afternoon all. Not a huge amount done so far today as still not well, but a couple of bits sorted so far:

• Window cleaner has been and cleaned windows at the front of the house. They only come every eight weeks but windows had not been done outside for a few years so it’s nice to have them clean and fresh again.
• Had previously asked for a quote from the window cleaner to do our gutters front and back, which we haven’t received yet, so chased that up.
• DB1 installed washing line in our garden so I will be able to make use of that when the weather is dry 😍😍

Tbh the washing line is the bit I’m most excited about. DB1 has spent a lot of time working on the garden this year and I feel it’s nicely finished off with finally having a washing line. We used to have one MANY years ago but it was taken out a lot of years ago and since then we’ve been having to dry everything indoors on clothes airers. This should give us a load more space in the house when it’s dry enough to put the washing out!

B x

Betharooni

Afternoon all,

Still not well (think I have a virus) but a couple of bits done yesterday and a few bits planned for today:

Yesterday:

• tidied round chair in living room, found a few bits that I’d misplaced, got rid of a load of rubbish, recycling and shredding.
• Food shopping - more expensive than I would have liked but a good variety of stuff in and meals planned with it up till the end of the weekend.

Today’s plans:

• Load up dishwasher.
• Sort out stuff to take to tip tomorrow morning.
• Do a bit of sorting in my bedroom.
• Go and pick up meds from pharmacy.
• Watch some bits off $ky+ planner, as it’s about 90% capacity used.
• Speak to DB1 re cat flap plans (as we currently have the back door open most of the day so the cat can come in and out, and don’t particularly want to be doing that in winter).

This weekend, as mentioned, I have a tip run to do with DB1, I have a hair appointment (expensive but it’s been put off for a couple of months and is now in desperate need, and I’ll feel a bit more human once it’s done), I need to go and buy some winter PJs (but must not buy anything else there!) and other than that I’m mainly planning to potter in the garden and in my bedroom.

B x

Debtfree2026

Hi B - hope you are feeling better now?

It's been a crazy couple of weeks here as well - eldest back to school (year 5) and youngest started reception.  Both coping very well, but of course all the clubs/extra curricular clubs have also started back so it's all a bit hectic at the best of times!  Getting to grips with the new routines, what days to now wear games kit to school etc etc!

This weekend was my youngest's birthday party, it was lovely but I am pleased that's all now over for another year to be honest!  The invites, cake, party bags plus trying to creatively plan a party that hasn't been done by everyone else in her class (I do benefit a little from her having a September birthday so being one of the first!) ….. .typically, she wasn't well last night so off school today, I've taken advantage of being home with her and tried to have a bit of a house reset but lots more to do!

I have a doctors appointment tomorrow morning, so already decided to go home afterwards rather than work.  She will definitely be back at school tomorrow so I'll be at home for a few hours by myself, so intend to tackle some more sorting out whilst the house is empty!  

Things to do:-

1. Contact the local music shop and put back my clarinet servicing until October half term, so my daughter doesn't lose out on a lesson at the end of Sept.
2.  Contact Shark about my new hoover as I can't register for the guarantee online;
3.  Contact ninja about an issue with my fairly new coffee machine;
4. Chase up the local gym re my youngest's gymnastics trial.

I think that's enough for now, considering it's also a fairly busy week at work (I'm HR Manager and we have an employee leaving on Friday and another handing in his notice so need to be on the ball with all that!).